For most of us, recycling has become a way of life — we toss our newspapers and water bottles into our curbside bins every week. Nationally, the recycling rate has increased every year for the past 30 years and here in the Inland Empire, we are home to various recycling programs that redirect waste from our landfills. Just look at Cal Poly Pomona, which has increased its campus sustainability efforts and recycles by about 3,500 tons of waste each year, or 300 pounds for every student. That is definitely something to be proud of, but there is still so much that we can do.

With all of the technological advancements, we can now recycle more than ever before. We can recycle phones, computers, batteries, foam cups and packaging, and more. And we should know because our business exists as a result of recyclable products. At Natural Environmental Protection Co. (NEPCO) we take recyclable foam #6 products and give them a second life as picture frames.

What are recyclable foam #6 products?

Basically it’s takeout food containers like foam cups and clamshells, foam block packaging used to protect electronics like new TVs during shipping, egg cartons, or meat trays all labeled with the #6. Thanks to advances in technology, we have built a business here in the Inland Empire that depends on everyone dong their part.

This is why we are taking the opportunity to remind every resident on America Recycles Day (Nov. 15) to recycle all types of materials. Secondary markets for recycled materials are growing industries and for the foam recycling market, it’s generating new jobs and economic activity right here in our community.

In fact, because of this growing new secondary market, foam is being recycled more than ever before. More than 65 California communities offer curbside foam recycling, making recycling more accessible to residents. All of these activities are spurring even more progress in the recycling industry and we believe it will continue.

We are living in a time when everything is quickly changing around us. Our phones are no longer just a device to talk to each other, they are little computers where we can order meals, clothes, or even book a vacation with a press of a button. Recycling is also changing — it’s no longer just about recycling our newspapers and aluminum cans. And we, in the Inland Empire, are equipped to be a leader in this recycling innovation where more and more plastics like foam products are being recycled, remanufactured, and reused.

Let’s keep it going and encourage all of our representatives to continue to support ways to expand recycling and make it more accessible so that we can meet our zero waste goals.

To see if foam or other materials can be picked up curbside or dropped off in your community recycling program, just check out your local city’s website. Let’s get recycling!